Research

“Mistrust and Vaccination in Colonial India: 1870–1926” (with Noel D. Johnson)
[Draft available on request]   [Slides]   [Research Remix Podcast, Mason Libraries]

“Pox, Piety, and Paradox”
[SSRN]

Abstract

This paper presents new historical evidence on the cultural roots of vaccine hesitancy and its medium-term effects. Using a newly compiled district-level dataset with religion-specific vaccination rates across colonial India (1868–1878), I examine how Hindu religious beliefs affected smallpox vaccination uptake. An instrumental variables approach using historical Hindu temple desecration sites shows that a one standard deviation increase in Hindu population share leads to a 0.89 to 1.98 percentage points decrease in Hindu vaccination rate at the district level. These effects are specific to Hindu populations and operate through religious and cultural practices. By 1891, a one standard deviation increase in Hindu share is associated with 17.7 and 12.6 percentage point increases in unmarried and widow ratios among young adults aged 10–25.

“Railways and Health Outcomes in Colonial India”
[SSRN]

“Language and Market Integration in Colonial India: A Network Economics Approach” (with Benhur Ruqsana)

“Colonization in a Network of Allies” (with Benhur Ruqsana)
[SSRN]

“Menu Prices”
[Draft available on request]

“Captive Pricing”
[Draft available on request]

“Addressing the Challenges of Death Registration in India: A Path Forward” (with Md Azharuddin Akhtar)
Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 60, Issue No. 4, 25 Jan 2025
[Paper]

“Flushed with Success: How Participation in Social Schemes Influences Toilet Adoption in Rural India” (with M. Tyagi, D. Kumar, and Md T. Khan)
Journal of Biosocial Science, Published online 20 February 2025
[Paper]

“Political Connections of Firms and Access to Credit: Evidence from the Indian Corporate Sector” (with M. Tyagi)
Structural Change and Economic Dynamics (2024)
[Paper]

“Political Connections and Access to Credit: Evidence from Micro-enterprises in India” (with M. Tyagi)
Small Business Economics (2024)
[Paper]

“Role of Political Connections in Land Investment: Evidence from Rural India” (with M. Tyagi)
Constitutional Political Economy (2020)
[Paper]

“Midwife Licensing and Maternal Health in Immigrant Communities: Evidence from Early Twentieth-Century America” (with Alicia Plemmons)
[Draft available on request]

“Respiratory Therapist Continuing Education Requirements and Respiratory Mortality” (with Alicia Plemmons)
[Draft available on request]

“Pollution and Productivity”